city blues (1925)

Bessie Smith, vocal; Louis Armstrong, cornet; Fred Longshaw, reed organ.
Although Bessie Smith most commonly sang the 12-bar blues, she was not restricted to that form. This W. C. Handy blues uses another song form. The first two choruses (verses) are in the standard 12-bar style, but the middle section of 16 measures introduces a new melody. The final 12-bar section introduces a third melody, though it is a return to the feel of the first two verses. Notice the relaxed call-and-response dialogue between the two soloists. The common blues accompaniment instruments are not even present in this performance. Smith and Armstrong must create the blues laid-back feeling themselves, with only the support of the interesting reed organ. Unlike the piano, the reed organ is not percussive; it can only underpin the melody with long chords. Nevertheless, the musicians provide their own compelling pulse.
